114 Botanic Drugs 



modic asthma and spasm of the uterine os; hyos- 

 cyamus is antispasmodic in several more or less 

 diverse states. 



Now these various antispasmodic actions were 

 proven by clinical experience, not largely by animal 

 experimentation; and the pharmacology of abnormal 

 function, which is proven clinically, is just as valu- 

 able and important as is the pharmacology of 

 normal function, which is proven by animal ex- 

 perimentation. As an illustration of the pharma- 

 cology of abnormal function, see "Camphor." 



An analysis of the better sustained claims made 

 for cactus showed its dominant role to be antispas- 

 modic in effect upon involuntary muscle. A tobacco 

 smoker can, by excess, produce the well-proven 

 spasm of involuntary muscle, especially of the heart 

 muscle and intestine. I have experienced this spasm 

 in myself, and very promptly relieved it with 

 medicinal doses of cactus. Also I have carefully 

 observed its action in mild anginal or pseudo-anginal 

 cases, cardiac spasm, spasmodic asthma, sphincter 

 spasm, etc., and am much inclined to credit anti- 

 spasmodic properties to the drug, more especially 

 as regards the heart muscle, the relief of sphincter 

 spasm not being marked, although the vessel walls 

 seem to respond. 



I believe the future will develop more definite 

 data than I am able to record here; but in no sense 

 of the word does cactus take the place of the drugs 

 of the digitalis group. 



THERAPEUTICS. Many functional cardiac derange- 

 ments respond in varying degrees, especially those 

 induced by excesses in habit-inducing agents like 

 coffee and tobacco and, to a less degree, alcohol, 



